Swappable fleet on the way

randall_l

Member
Hi folks.

Thanks to the Flite Test crew, I've started on an incredibly fun journey with swappables.

It all started with an Old Fogey...

OldFogey_1.jpg

I started with the Old Fogey because it looked like a super easy build and a really easy flyer. I didn't want to spend days or weeks building something that either didn't work for me or I destroyed during the maiden.

I scaled it and the power pod down to my preferred size (60% or about 560mm/22in.) and mounted the rudder and elevator servos on the power pod. I use micro control rod keepers (Hobby King equivalent to Dubro EZ Clips) on all my models anyway, so it made sense to me to reduce the number of servos I'd have to buy when building a fleet. It's a bit more complicated to remove the power pod now that I have to release the clips and unhook the control rods, but it works for me.

My power pod has:
Hextronic 20G Brushless Outrunner, 2300KV with a 6x4 Master Airscrew prop;
Turnigy Plush 10A brushless ESC w/2A BEC;
2x Turnigy TGY-D1290P High Speed Micro Servos;
a FrSky VD5M micro receiver;
500mAh 2S LiPo (Zippy Compact, 25C)

It delivers around 300g thrust--overkill for a 120g slow flyer like the Old Fogey, but it's what I had in my parts bin.

By the way Flite Test guys, awesome work on this plan! Thanks.

I had such a great time with the build and flying the Old Fogey that I started looking at my build list and wondering if I could use the power pod. The answer is YES!

I started my next build--a MiG-7--and adapted it for the power pod as I built it. Then I thought, "This is a war bird... I'd like to have it scream"

So, I built a new, reinforced power pod with the same servos, but upgraded power system:
Turnigy Aerodrive SK3 - 2122-2100kv Brushless Outrunner with a 6x4 Master Airscrew prop;
Turnigy Plush 12A brushless ESC w/2ABEC;
500mAh 3S LiPo (Zippy Compact, 25C)--still waiting to receive.

I also used full-range FrSky 6-channel receiver.

Now, the MiG-7 has ailerons, so I used a Hextronic HXT500 and music wire to drive both ailerons. It's mounted in the airframe, pictured:

MiG-7_1.jpg

This weekend, I'm hoping to finish the build and maiden it with both power pods.

If all goes well, here's my build list using these power pods:
Gee Bee R3 (plans printed, materials and hardware put aside);
Curtiss P-6E Hawk (cuz I don't have any biplanes yet);
P-51D Mustang;
Mitsubishi Zero;
Me-109;
F4U Corsair;
Extra 300;
FW-190;
Supermarine Spitfire;
Fokker DR.1

I've already built scratchies of the last 4, so if I never get to them I'm okay with it.

Anyone else planning a fleet of swappables?

Cheers!
Randall
 

earthsciteach

Moderator
Moderator
I like the looks of the Mig-7. I would be a bit leery of the KF airfoil with those very tapered wings. Be ready for high-speed stall. You may find it quite "snappy."
 

MrClean

Well-known member
More importantly, let us know and see the video. A red star and a stripe and you is in winter camo.
 

randall_l

Member
Just one task left before the maiden: affix the removable canopy.

Daylight is disappearing fast, so I'll have to wait to fly it, but here's a picture of the (mostly) completed model...

MiG-7_2.jpg

I ended up using some pin headers I had and mounting the servo connectors in one of the formers so that when the power pod is inserted, the aileron and nav lights get plugged in.

I have my doubts where the CoG is, so I've mounted the battery on the bottom with a strip of velcro to test it out. There's room in the front under the power pod and under the canopy.

At 153g I doubt it'll fly well, but it was a fun build.

Cheers!

Randall
 

randall_l

Member
I've had a couple flight sessions, sorry no video yet.

The first one was with the power pod I built for this plane:
Turnigy PLUSH 12A ESC w/2ABEC;
Turnigy Aerodrove SK3 2122-2100kv brushless outrunner;
2x Turnigy TGY-D1290P High Speed micro servos;
Zippy Compact 2S 500mAh 25C LiPo;
Master Airscrew 6x4 prop.

The AUW was at the 153g previously mentioned.

As I expected and as earthsciteach pointed out, there was quite a high stall speed. It's what I would expect from a high altitude interceptor--needs to fly fast.

The second set this morning was with the same power pod that I use for my Old Fogey:
Turnigy PLUSH 10A ESC w/2A BEC;
hexTronic 20g 2300kv brushless outrunner;
2x Turnigy TGY-D1290P High Speed micro servos;
Master Airscrew 6x4 prop.

I did make a couple swaps. Instead of the 500mAh LiPo, I used a Turnigy nano-tech 2S 300mAh 35-70C LiPo and instead of the Master Airscrew 6x4, I used an APC 6x4--which lowered the AUW down to 131g. What a difference 22g makes. It's still got a fairly high stall speed (need to maintain at least 50% throttle to avoid stalling), but what pep! I'm not sure how much thrust it's got, but it goes vertical quick enough for me to say, "Whoa!".

My task this weekend is to get my hatcam fine tuned and get some video of this beauty in flight.

Cheers!
Randall
 

randall_l

Member
I learned a bunch of things today. Mostly that my hatcam needs a lot of work. I did however, manage to get a bit of somewhat useful video of the MiG-7 in flight.

http://youtu.be/BjJ8IuWnUOc

I stripped the audio because I tend to use the camera to record notes, observations and suggestions about the flight.

Cheers!
Randall
 

randall_l

Member
This past weekend I spent more time flying than building, which tells me that build season (a.k.a. winter) is waning. Even still, I think I can get one more project completed before I look out the window from my workspace thinking, "I should be out there."

That project is a Gee Bee R3 (attached). Swappable, of course.

GeeBeeR3-Swappable.jpg

With the MiG-7, I modified all my power pods to have pin headers (attached) in the back for extra fuselage-mounted servos. So, when I insert the power pod, the servos get plugged in--no messing with wires.

PPod_1.jpg

Time to get ready (and fly to) work.

Cheers!
Randall
 
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Foam Addict

Squirrel member
That is brilliant! Except one little thing, what happens in a crash?
I love the idea, just curious about the pins.
 

randall_l

Member
Having crashed more than a couple times, I can tell you that the front of the fuselage and power pod absorbs nearly all the impact. Of course, I haven't run anything straight into the ground to test it. All my crashes have been from stalls or wing dips at low altitude that cause grass cartwheels.

So far, the foam has crinkled a bit on the nose, the front pod mount in the fuselage has dislodged and the front of the port wing separated from the fuselage a bit. Nothing a little CA and tape couldnd't cure.

On the last set of tabs, I've reinforced with polystyrene sheet on the power pod and fuselage. I use a tweezer-like pin (bent control rod) to secure to the fuselage but still allow easy removal for in-field swap outs. Also, on the MiG-7 (and soon to be Gee Bee R3), there's a 1/32" plywood bar that the servos rest against in the fuselage. I'd hope that's enough stress relief.

I'd greatly appreciate suggestions--I'm just going with what I came up with during the MiG-7 build.

Cheers!
Randall
 

randall_l

Member
More planes for the fleet

Well, strange weather has extended build season.

I've done a modified Old Fogey with some more complicated build techniques:
-fuselage is reinforced with CF strip laterally on each side;
-horizontal stabilizer is built-in to the fuselage, instead of attached below;
-horizontal and vertical stabilizers are of 3x 1mm Depron laminate with a CF spar in the centre ply;
-main wing has full CF spar, using 1mm birch plywood elbows and dihedral reduced to 15-degrees from 20-degrees in the plan;
-front of main wing is 3x 1mm Depron laminate for increased stiffness;
-control rod tubes are inset into the fuselage.

OldFogey-v2.jpg
AUW (2S): 152g
Wingspan: 585mm
Length: 470mm
Now the wings don't flutter on full-throttle descent and the model is much more responsive (read less stable).

This is the first model that my wife has made a contribution. It's hidden by the main wing in the photo, but there's a maple leaf on the vertical stabilizer. My wife had a maple leaf punch that was the perfect size, so I put some of the wing tape on overlapped freezer paper and punched a couple maple leafs for home-made stickers.

I also built a new MiG-7:
-larger to accommodate a 3S pack inside the fuselage;
-4-ply 3mm Depron Aero wing with KFm7 airfoil;
-2 aileron servos, instead of a single servo and torque rods;
-horizontal and vertical stabilizer are 3x 1mm Depron laminate with CF spars in the centre ply;
-fuselage ribs are 3-ply 1mm Depron, 1mm plywood, 1mm Depron laminate for increased strength;
-main wing has 2, 1x3mm CF spars with plywood elbows--1 full length at 50% of the root chord and 1 half-length at CoG;
-used 3-ply 1mm Depron, 1.5mm balsa, 1mm Depron for front pod clip.

MiG-7-v2.jpg
AUW (2S): 174g
AUW (3S): 186.4g
Wingspan: 650mm
Length: 430mm

Next up is a P-51D mustang and maybe I can get some more work done on the GeeBee R3 now that I have some experience with skinning models.

Now if only the weather would co-operate to let me fly some of the models I've built...

Cheers!
Randall
 
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randall_l

Member
Just got back from the field and reviewed my hatcam footage... really nothing useful. The MiG is just too fast for the limited field of view of my camera. I think I'll buy another couple cameras and make myself a panorama hatcam.

I took the Mig-7 v2 out on a 2S test. I'm still shaking--half exhilaration, half terror. The first 2 tosses (and minor crashes--only cosmetic damage) were getting the trim down, then on to business. It flies as faster than the other MiG (greater weight/wingspan).

The thing is an absolute terror in the sky. I recently watched a bunch of warbird videos on SuperiorHistory's YouTube channel and other channels. The MiG was able to mimic the maneuvers I remembered with ease. Very realistic climb rate. Not to mention that the thing just looks scary in the air.

With that said, I'm not sure if I want to try 3S--at least not in the wind today (16km/h). I created a flaperon mix forthe 4th toss and that helped quite a bit with landing (slower, more controllable). I noticed a bit of tip-stall at less than half throttle, like the other MiG-7. In the top third, it really tightened up and flew like a real warbird.

I'm super excited about this plane, but it's definitely not a laze about flyer. I had to concentrate every second.

Every once in a while, I have a moment where my excitement about the hobby breaks through what I thought was possibe. Today, when I mimicked a strafing run--and filled with excitement and terror--was one of them.

I love this hobby!

Hope to get some decent video of it soon.

Cheers!
Randall
 
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randall_l

Member
Yesterday was an interesting one. Coming in for a strafing pass (a few feet above my head as usual) with the MiG on 2S, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. It was a Red Tail Hawk gunning for my plane (which does sort of look like a dove--the hawks primary food in my area).

I managed to out maneuver the hawk for a bit, then decided to get some altitude and distance. Just then, LVC! There was no way I could get away at half throttle (on 2S anyway). I quickly (but gently) turfed it, but the hawk started preparing for a dive. In a fit of desperation (and maybe stupidity too), I ran screaming towards the my plane and the approaching hawk. Yes, I deserve a Darwin award for going up against nature like that. I did scare the hawk away though and just in time to go to work.

Anyway, I have a bit of news on the swappable fleet front. I've been working on a P-51D Mustang for a few weeks.

Mustang_skeleton.jpg

I just need to suss the rudder/elevator control rod paths, then I can cover the fuselage and make it pretty.

To keep in-line with the other plane sizes and have enough material on the ribs to maintain integrity, I used 3x 3mm Depron sheets with a CF spar sandwiched in. Because this makes the fuselage (in full scale) 9 inches wider and in flight the power pod 'sings', I'm calling it "The Fat Lady". I've found a neat cartoon of the classic viking opera singer to put on the nose.

Next, dictated by my 21 month old daughter is going to be Zazu (from the Lion King). After that, I have to make a witch on a broom for Hallowe'en and finish a non-swappable Santa's sleigh (and 9 reindeer) for Christmas.

Cheers!
Randall
 

randall_l

Member
Unfortunately, my daughter didn't co-operate at the park today, so no video. I did however test out HKs Doppler app--a complete bust as it crashes when it processes a reading on iOS 5.1 (and no, I won't upgrade to 6).

A quick google revealed that the older RCS Starter app does work. And my results follow...

Three upwind passes (S 7-11kph) of the MiG 7 on 3S (Zippy Compact 500mAh 3S 25C) at WOT:
Pass 1: 93.44kph
Pass 2: 92.86kph
Pass 3: 92.52kph

The passes had to be upwind because of obstacles. So since the passes were upwind, should I add 6-7kph to the speeds?

Even without adding the wind, it's about 20kph faster than I had estimated.

I hope after a nap, my daughter is more amenable to letting my wife do some video for me.

Cheers!
Randall
 
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randall_l

Member
Finally got some video--such as it is.


I used my iPhone, propped up against my sunglass case.

I've gotta say, flying inside the 'box' is difficult with this plane.

Cheers!
Randall